Chapter 37 Georgina #2
“He did. In fact, he said he loves you. And that he missed you so much after his father went to prison, when he was thirteen, he hired you as an adult, ten years later, the minute he was financially able to swing it. He said having you back in his life was so important to him, he hired you even before he bought his first sports car.”
Okay, yes, I’m extrapolating and expanding ever so slightly from the actual words Reed said.
But why else would Reed have hired Amalia the moment he was able to do so, even before buying a sports car, if he hadn’t missed her terribly after she’d stopped working for his family—which Reed did explicitly say, coincided with his father going to prison?
From Amalia’s body language, it’s clear she’s blown away by what I’ve said. Indeed, if I blew on her, she’d tip over. She leans her hip against the island and puts her hand on her heart.
“It means the world to me to hear Reed said all of that. Thank you so much for telling me this, Georgie.”
“You’re welcome.” My heart skips a beat.
It’s been a long time since I’ve hung out in a kitchen with a kind, older woman, and helped her cook a meal.
The experience is causing my heart to flutter like crazy.
“Reed actually referred to you as his second mother.” Am I fibbing?
Did Reed say that, or did I? I can’t recall.
But either way, even if I was the one who said it, Reed certainly didn’t correct me.
And he did say he loves Amalia, and a photo of his mother and Amalia is one of the few personal shots in the house.
.. So, I think it’s safe to say I haven’t told a lie.
“I love that sweet man so much,” Amalia says, more to herself than to me.
For a moment, she looks lost in thought.
But then she shakes off her reverie, sighs, and smiles.
“I’m frankly quite surprised Reed said all this to you.
Especially, the part about me being with his family until Mr. Rivers went to prison.
Reed is an extremely private person. Especially about his father, and his childhood.
I think he doesn’t like being reminded of anything unpleasant. He prefers not to think about it.”
My heart is galloping. I have a feeling, if I handle this conversation right, I’ll walk away with a goldmine of insight into parts of Reed he never shows the world.
And I won’t have to pull it out of Reed to get it.
“Reed actually told me a very poignant story about his father last night in the garage. A story about how Reed used to golf with his father every weekend. The point of the story was to explain to me how devastated Reed was when he realized his father had actually committed the crimes he’d been accused of.
So much so, he doesn’t play golf now, because it brings up too many bad memories. ”
Amalia’s jaw drops. Quickly, she looks down—and there’s no doubt she’s getting a grip on her emotions. When she looks up again, she looks pale. “I wish so badly I could have done more for Reed after his father went to prison. But there was only so much I could do.”
“Oh, of course, Amalia. I’m sure Reed knows that. From what he said, you’ve been a very calming, nurturing presence for him his whole life.”
Again, she looks shocked. “Wow. Reed really has shared a lot with you about his life, hasn’t he?”
“Well, I have been assigned to write an in-depth article about him. But even more than that, we’ve really clicked, maybe because I’ve shared things about my life with him, too.
I told him about my mother, who died when I was nine, and that’s something I never, ever talk about with anyone.
The same as Reed, I’m a person who prefers not to talk too much about things that make me sad. ”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry about your mother.”
“Thank you. I think me opening up about that made Reed feel comfortable to do the same with me.”
“Well, that makes a lot of sense. You and Reed have a shared experience. I mean, it’s not the exact same thing, but both of you did lose your mothers at the exact same age.”
I’m stumped. Reed lost his mother at nine?
“Right,” I say, like I know exactly what Amalia is talking about.
.. even though, in truth, I haven’t a clue.
If Reed lost his mother at age nine, then who’s the mother happily doing yoga and painting in Scarsdale with her boyfriend, Lee?
Also, if Reed lost his mother at nine, why on earth didn’t he mention that fact to me after I told him about my mother?
I mean, not last night, when I was screaming at him like a freaking maniac.
But this morning, during our amazing, intimate conversation in the gym, when we were both so open and apologetic and kind?
I’m thoroughly confused.
Did Reed’s biological mother die when he was nine, and then his Dad somehow remarried before being shipped off to prison, and the woman in Scarsdale is actually his stepmother—a woman Reed always thinks of as his mother?
That could be it. But, damn, if that’s the case, Reed’s father got married after the death of his wife awfully fast. As quickly as my own father did.
Which, again, I would have expected Reed to mention when I was telling him about my father and Paula.
My head teeming with thoughts, I chop some carrots for a long moment, and finally cast out my fishing rod. “I’m so proud of Reed for all he’s accomplished in his life,” I say, “especially after everything he went through as a child.”
“Oh, yes. I’m enormously proud of him for that, too.
It breaks my heart, just thinking about everything he went through.
But he’s come out the other side and made all his dreams come true, while still retaining his kind heart.
That’s the best thing of all, if you ask me—that he’s as kind and generous and sweet as ever, despite all his success. ”
Okay, who the fuck is Amalia talking about? I mean, yes, Reed has been enormously generous and sweet with me, but Amalia is making him out to be a saint.
“He really is so generous and sweet,” I agree. “I mean, he didn’t simply let Henn throw his wedding here. He paid for everything.”
“Oh, I know. But that’s Reed. If he cares about you, he’ll move heaven and earth to make you happy.”
“So I’m discovering. You know what I think? Reed is terribly misunderstood by people who don’t know him well.”
She stops what she’s doing on a dime. “Oh my gosh, yes, he is! I’m so glad you understand that about him, Georgina, so you can show the world the real Reed in your article. So many people don’t see his heart. They think he’s only a shrewd businessman. But he’s so much more than that.”
“That’s what I like about Reed most. That he’s got so many layers.”
Amalia nods enthusiastically.
And we both fall silent for a moment.
Finally, Amalia says, “To be honest, it shattered me to watch poor Reed’s world come crashing down the way it did.”
I continue chopping methodically, even though my mind is reeling.
Is that a reference to Reed’s father’s arrest and conviction?
Or a reference to whatever happened to Reed’s mother when he was nine?
“Yeah, from what Reed told me,” I say, “it seems like everything was extremely difficult for him.” What “everything” am I talking about? Honestly, I have no idea.
“I just felt so powerless to do anything to help him,” Amalia laments. “And then his father was arrested, only a few short years later, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. How much can that poor boy take?’”
“You did everything you could,” I say vaguely, even though I still don’t have a clue what we’re talking about. “Reed knows that.”
Amalia exhales deeply and stops what she’s doing at the stove, so I stop chopping and give her my undivided attention.
“I tried to take him in when his father went to prison,” she says.
“But the judge said I wasn’t a relative, so I couldn’t have him.
It broke my heart to watch him get sent to live with some distant relative he barely knew, rather than with me.
I wanted to be the one to take him because I loved him like my own.
I truly did.” She wipes her eyes with her apron. “I still do.”
Well, this is new information. When Reed’s father was arrested, Reed was sent to live with a distant relative?
Why? Where was Reed’s mother... or his stepmother, if that’s who the happy woman in Scarsdale is?
Oh, God, I’m so confused. I move around to Amalia on the other side of the island, and put my hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
“I’m sure Reed knows you did your best, Amalia. ”
Amalia shakes her head. “I cried when I couldn’t get custody of him. I cried for myself and for Reed, and for his poor mother, too. Of course, I would have preferred his mother could have taken care of him, but that simply wasn’t possible. Truly, it was just a tragedy, all around, for all of us.”
“Yes, but you wouldn’t be here with Reed now, all these years later, if he felt anything but love and gratitude toward you.”
“Thank you. I only want the best for him.”
“Of course, you do. I think that’s what Reed appreciates about his relationship with you. How uncomplicated it is. When he told me about his mother... and her life in Scarsdale...” I trail off, not sure how to complete the sentence. What the hell are we talking about?
“Yes, I know Reed wishes she’d agree to transfer to the facility in Malibu. But she won’t leave the one in Scarsdale.”
And there it is. Finally. The truth. The word that explains that tightness I thought I saw on Reed’s face last night when he talked about his mother’s happy, perfect life in Scarsdale with her boyfriend, Lee. Facility. As in mental facility?
“Yes, exactly,” I say calmly, even though my synapses are exploding. “He said he gets out there to visit as much as he can, but I’m sure it would be easier if she’d transfer to the facility in Malibu.”
“Of course, it would. I’m sure it hurts Reed, more than he lets on, that she won’t move to a facility closer to him, so he can spend more time with her and take care of her the way he wants to do.
” She looks toward the door of the kitchen, and then back at me.
“I’m not surprised Eleanor won’t move closer, honestly.
She never put her boys first, right from the start.
That was the hardest thing for me to watch, as their nanny.
A mother should always put her children first, whether she’s got a nanny or not. ”
Holy fuck burgers. My brain is whirring and clacking now, deftly processing the shreds of new information Amalia just supplied to me.
Eleanor. Note to self: gather every bit of information you can on Eleanor Rivers of Scarsdale.
Boys. Plural. Amalia said Eleanor never put the boys first. And that Amalia was “their” nanny.
But Reed didn’t mention he has a brother.
Only a sister. And I don’t think Wikipedia mentioned a brother.
I put down my knife, every molecule of my skin buzzing. “Hey, Amalia. I’m sorry. I just remembered I have to research something for one of the articles I’m writing. I’m sorry to ditch my duties as your sous chef, but—”
“Go, go. This is my job, not yours. Thank you for the conversation. I’ve wanted to talk to someone about these things for a very long time.” She smiles kindly. “You’re absolutely lovely, Georgie. It’s no wonder Reed is so taken with you.”
My heart squeezes. “Thank you. It’s no wonder Reed loves you so much. I’m looking forward to cooking and chatting with you a lot this summer.”
Amalia’s face lights up. “I have some wonderful recipes I’d be happy to teach you.”
“I’d love that.” I hug Amalia goodbye, and then sprint upstairs to my room, where I flip open my laptop and hop online.
Obviously, there’s a whole lot about Reed’s life he doesn’t want to talk about.
Which is perfectly fine. But that’s not going to stop me from digging a little deeper.
.. to try to get to know the man behind The Man with the Midas Touch. .. whether he wants me to... or not.